THERE is no plan to change current laws related to governing 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues, says Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
The National Unity Minister said current laws were already sufficient to deal with and punish anyone looking to instigate 3R issues.
“Under Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948, anyone who does, attempts or makes plans to create or do anything deemed seditious will already be fined RM20,000 and 18 months’ imprisonment for their first offence.
“Meanwhile, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act makes it an offence to use any network facilities that transmit communication deemed offensive or caused annoyance to anyone, which if found guilty can face up to RM50,000 fine and a year in jail.
“There are also multiple provisions inside the Penal Code that can protect against defamation, slander and wrong usage of certain words,” he said during the Minister’s Question Time at Parliament yesterday.
However, he gave assurance that the government would be willing to review the laws should the unity of the people be threatened.
On this, he added that the outcome of recent government review of the 3R-related laws held earlier in July was still inconclusive and no decision had been made.
Previously on July 25, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said announced that the Cabinet agreed in principle to review the Sedition Act 1948 to ensure it is used solely to protect the dignity of the royal institution.
